The Chicago Theological Seminary in Hyde Park is currently seeking entries in all media for a visual exhibition to be on display beginning September 30 for an interactive arts event: Coloring Outside the Lines, September 30 to October 2, 2005. We hope to continue the exhibition through December 15, as availability allows.

Coloring Outside the Lines: Arts-Ministry-Justice-Theology seeks to strengthen the community that gathers for the event while exploring ways that the arts can help us confront and undo racism, homophobia and related social injustices. The weekend will include interactive artists' workshops, art exhibits, worship and performances. We will be joined by storyteller Valerie Tutson; Imagine Chicago's founder and president, the Rev. Bliss Browne; and performer/composer Ken Medema. Together, these acclaimed artists and theologians will help us use our hands, heads, bodies and breath to make art that makes justice among us. Submissions might relate to any or all of the following themes: the relationships among story, spirituality, community building, faith, social justice, arts and activism; personal and social transformation; the building of anti-racist multicultural community; the history of grassroots struggles for racial, gender, sexual, and economic justice – especially among Chicago neighborhoods and faith communities.

Chicago Theological Seminary is the oldest institution of higher learning in Chicago, currently celebrating its 150th anniversary. A seminary of the United Church of Christ, CTS draws students from more than 20 denominations and faith traditions. Our students are female and male; African-American, Latino/a, and European-American; Australian, South African, Filipino, Indian, Korean and Indonesian; lesbian, gay, bisexual and heterosexual; age 21 to age 67. They are artists, preachers, musicians, scholars, youth leaders, business professionals, activists, health care providers, counselors, contemplatives... and the list goes on.
Everyone teaches at CTS. Its curriculum is strongly influenced by Brazilian educator and activist Paulo Freire, who insists, “What you learn depends on those with whom you learn.” We teach one another by our embodied diversity—our astonishing differences and our surprising commonalities. We teach one another by the gift of dialogue.

In the words of theologian Laurel Schneider, we ask “the exquisitely intimate question of God among us.” We ask the questions that “burn fiercely in the heart,” as pastoral psychotherapist Robert Moore states. Hebrew Bible scholar Ken Stone points out that “to question is not to destroy.” Questioning brings our contemporary lives and concerns into conversation with tradition, seeking insights and learning from contradictions. Intimate and fierce, this community demands engagement. The purpose is serious. The work is filled with joy.

Entry Deadline: September 15, 2005

Entry Format: Digital Images, Slides, VHS, Mini-DV, DVD, CD

***************ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED***************

Information to include:
NAME
TITLE
MEDIA
DIMENSIONS
MOUNTING REQUIREMENTS
DESCRIPTION OR ARTIST STATEMENT
SHORT BIO OR CV

Please send submissions to:
coloring@ctschicago.edu

Coloring Outside the Lines
Attn: Lydia York
5751 S. University
Chicago, IL 60637

To have your materials returned, please include a self addressed and stamped envelope.

For more information please visit our website www.ctschicago.edu